Chinon camera repair

[dosilverhalide]

Does anyone know of someone that repairs Chinon's, in the US. The model is CEII Memotron. J.

 

[dosilverhalide]

Hellllllloooooo, this sure must be an orphan camera. Any one want to give it a try? J

 

[David Lyga]

Make certain that it really is broken. Check the battery. And the CONTACTS on the camera for that battery. Use either a white eraser to rub, rub, rub those contacts or use a bit of strong acetic acid on them. You would be surprised with how many cameras were perfectly good when this was done properly. - David Lyga

 

[dosilverhalide]

Thank you for your comments, Mr. Lyga. I have tried cleaning the contacts with no luck. The self tmer is now stuck and no light meter function, so I think its heading for the camera graveyard in the sky. J

 

[Ian Grant]

Thank you for your comments, Mr. Lyga. I have tried cleaning the contacts with no luck. The self tmer is now stuck and no light meter function, so I think its heading for the camera graveyard in the sky. J

Get a better one on Ebay.

I had 2 Chinon CE4's in the late 70's/early 80's, remarkably good cameras and superb standard lenses. Mine were stolen and replaced by M series Pentax cameras, however I've since picked up 2 more CE4's for next to nothing in great working order, at less than the cost of a repair.

Ian

 

[AllanD]

To me it sounds like that camera is beyond economic repair if you need a repair man to fix it for you. However, it does not mean that the camera cannot be repaired by someone. In my experience, electrical problems are frequently caused by corrosion of internal wires and solder joints. Mechanical problems are often caused by lack of lubrication and general gumming up of the mechanism, rather than something breaking. My recommendation would be to sell it on with a clear description of the faults you have found and use what you make (it will not be much, and it might not sell) to find a working body. If you really want to have that particular camera fixed for sentimental reasons, someone with experience of cameras of that era may well be able to get it working for you, but it might be expensive and not even possible if a component is actually broken.

If you are willing to make the effort, it might be possible that you can fix it yourself. Plenty of people do, and in the process they learn new skills that mean that they do not have to rely on repair techs to keep these old cameras going. However, if you make a hash of it, that camera may never be of any use to anyone again; hence my advice to sell it on as is.

 

[dosilverhalide]

Chinon went to camera heaven along with a Mamiya Sekor CP? slr and 58mm m42 lens purchased for 4 dollars at a flea market. Just wanted the 58mm lens, but it had been taken apart and put back with other lens parts. J